CP's Ultimate FS Guide to The World Team Trials
CP's Ultimate FS Guide to The World Team Trials
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CP's Ultimate FS Guide to The World Team Trials
Christian Pyles, College Analyst
Welcome to the Big Show! America's top athletes will all be on board for this one in the wrestling rich town of Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Ironically, the IOC debacle has rallied this country's wrestling fans to the international styles. It seems the anticipation for our nation's senior athletes is trending upward.
And it comes at a great time. The depth at each weight is particularly intriguing. Mega-match ups loom as our top talent vie to represent their country later in the year at World's in Budapest, Hungary.
Here we'll handicap the major players at each weight while highlighting their styles, strengths, and weaknesses.
55 KG
This is a weight with a slightly new look domestically compared to last years Olympic Trials. It has decent depth, but that perhaps shouldn’t be associated with strength. We haven’t seen a medal at this weight since Cejudo’s Beijing Gold. With Nick Simmons trying out the Greco scene (and also food) up at 60 KG it leaves 55 a bit simpler to navigate. There are a few contenders and a few up and comers who will be in the mix for a spot on the World Team.
U.S. Open Champion-Sitting in Finals
Obe Blanc-He’s looking to make his second world team and continue to keep his momentum going from an impressive U.S. Open. Obe likes to use head-tap fake, head-tap to set up his leg attacks. Blanc is a quick wrestler who shoots a nice low ankle and single. He has never been the biggest at 55, can leave himself vulnerable to re-shots, and can be turned in par terre. Fortunately for Obe, I don’t believe the host of challengers offers the same top game challenges that the Iranians or Nick Simmons have, so I don’t see him needing to worry so much about getting turned. I thought he looked great at the Rumble on the Rails, just gave up an unfortunate turn at an inopportune time. I believe Obe is the most complete wrestler at this weight and also believe he has the best offense of anyone at 55. I think Haze is the biggest threat to Obe with his great positioning and stingy defense.
Sam Hazewinkel-The former Olympian comes into the World Team Trials looking to provide some consistency for the United States at 55 KG. The new rules may or may not be especially beneficial for Haze who at times can struggle to score. Sam is at his best when he controls ties and pace from the Russian tie. I would describe Sam’s leg attacks as fairly low risk. He doesn’t like to hit his knee when penetrating (though he will on occasion), and likes to use his legs/feet to help get to the leg. He’s fairly unique in this aspect. Sam is a savvy wrestler with elite defense and is at his best when he gets the lead and hangs on. While he is great at controlling ties/wrists (which can partially be attributed to his days on the Senior Greco scene), he can struggle to keep guys off his legs when shooting from space (a strength of Obe’s). So this will be something to watch for. His style doesn’t lend itself to comebacks.
Frank Perrelli-He’s a nice young prospect. He’s been competing on the Senior level for some time now, so even though he is somewhat young, that doesn’t mean he is green. Frank has good speed in general but especially with level changes. He has a few nice takedowns but really uses a lot of ducks and a single. Perrelli has quality defense as well as decent top game. At times Frank has shown to be vulnerable in a front head lock. Also he can tend to rely on speed to get takedowns and, can take shots without quality set ups and get punished for it.
Brandon Precin- He has made a nice adjustment to the Freestyle game since he graduated from Northwestern. His style transitions quite well to the next level. He is excellent in ties and shoots a nice single leg. He is an extremely well rounded wrestler. He has great physical strength though he doesn’t appear to be physically imposing. Anyone who has watched much of Precin is acutely aware of his dump he can hit when he gets your elbow. Though many know it’s coming, he is creative in both how he gets your elbow and how he sets his dump up. This can be a big move for him considering he frequently exposes guys with this takedown. He’s coming off a 3rd place showing at the Open and will look to land himself in the upper echelon of 55’s.
Mark McKnight-The ex Nittany Lion has been making great strides and provided some quality depth at 55. He has quite a good motor which will only help him more with the new rules. He is great at using heavy hands for snaps and getting his opponents out of position. He has a fairly nice single and at times can get exposures. He’s beaten some quality guys such as Perrelli and is poised to
Zach Sanders-Had a really rough U.S. Open placing 8th. In watching his matches it seemed he experienced some sort of knee injury, so perhaps that’s what caused him to drop a few head scratchers (including to Steve Mytych) He has always had elite motion but, gives up legs too much. Still is able to hit his beautiful inside trip. For a smaller guy he can really wear on your head and uses that to get to his duck under. One of his finest attributes has always been a great motor which will only become a more powerful tool as we transition into these new rules. I expect Sanders to be in the mix for a top 5 finish by the end of the Trials, health permitting.
Wildcard:
Angel Escobedo-The ex-Hoosier is someone a few years ago I felt was the future of this weight. Phenomenal athleticism, tactically wise, explosive and physically imposing at 55. I also felt leaving Indiana for the Ohio RTC would give him the elite training situation he lacked in Indiana. So far I’ve been pretty wrong about that. It is possible that the shoulder injuries that have troubled him really hampered his progress. I have noticed his offensive output has decreased compared to his early senior level days and late NCAA matches. This could be attributed to the shoulder injury as well. If he’s healthy and let’s it fly, he’s a nightmare match up. If he’s not that guy, it could be a long (actually short) day for Angel. I’m holding out hope.
Prediction:
1. Sam Hazewinkel-In 3 matches
2. Obe Blanc
3. Angel Escobedo
4. Brandon Precin
5. Frank Perrelli
60 KG
This weight’s pecking order is pretty tough to determine. On any given day the combination of Humphrey, Scott and Stieber could pan out in a variety of different orders. Not to be disregarded, the likes of Jimmy Kennedy and Tyler Graff have wins over this staunch top 3. With Shawn Bunch out of the fold and Mike Zadick moving on, it allows some new faces opportunities to crack the top 5. There’s still some serious Ohio RTC presence with Humphrey and Stieber both representing the world class club. This weight will be one to keep an eye on, but in all likelihood we have a Scott v. Stieber Challenge final.
U.S. Open Champion Sitting in Finals:
Reece Humphrey- Hump set’s his aim on another World Team spot. After just missing the Olympic Team, Reece has continued to compete and work for his illusive World Medal. Reece is not a high out-put wrestler. He keeps his attempts low and picks his spots rarely. With the old rules he was frequently (seemingly) content to go to the ball draw. This could possibly be a bi-product of the rules, and he may adjust his style accordingly. It is also possible that he is just not a wrestler who will look to score enough, and the new rules could hurt him. Whichever is the case, we will find out in the Trials finals where I believe he will be tested and ultimately beaten. His wrestling IQ is unquestionably high, his defense is elite, and he has some big moves from his Greco background as well. He has a nice arm spin he can use on wrestlers who leave their arms out and push too much. His athleticism is probably his most under-rated attribute, but that is partially because we don’t see it on full display enough, he has great speed, explosion and mat awareness that make him difficult to defeat.
Logan Stieber-Watching this kids progression has been a blast to watch. Knowing that we are still very early into his career makes it all the more exciting. Logan wrestles the way I believe you’re supposed to: Hard. Constantly on the attack, willing to make a mistake for the opportunity to score and score some more. Never sitting on a lead, rather building and looking to dominate. we saw plenty of that this year in his NCAA competition and we have seen it in Freestyle as well. Logan already has a Jr. World Silver medal to his credit. He has tremendous strength and power he uses alongside a phenomenal array of takedowns. He has some great throw-bys and slide by’s he uses as well has a beautiful single leg and double as well. With all this gushing it may sound as though I’ve been afflicted by “Stieber Fever” as they say. That very well could be the case. He looked fair at the U.S. Open placing 4th. Logan dropped a tough one to Humphrey on a somewhat controversial clinch call. After that he dropped another match to Tyler Graff where he wrestled fairly sloppy and gave up his legs far too much to an attacker as skilled as Tyler. I’m openly rooting for Logan to take the spot as I think his pace and strength will be a nightmare for the entire Planet.
Coleman Scott-The Cowboy is looking to take the 60 KG reigns back. Our Olympic Bronze medalist is coming of a runner up finish at the U.S. Open where he fell to Reece Humphrey in a tight one. Coleman makes his money with his great variety of attacks. He was best known for a while for his beautiful double, but he has ducks, hi-c’s, low single and a sweep that he can all use effectively. He has a unique stance that resembles some of the European wrestlers. He’s great at using level change fakes to set up his attacks. Coleman a seasoned vet at 60 and is in a great training situation under the wing of Coach Smith as well as a host of training partners that will sharpen him for competition. USA will be once again in great hands if Coleman were to make this World team.
Tyler Graff-The Badger may be a notch behind some of these guys but his win over Stieber definitely has me paying attention and interested. Since his Redshirt Freshman year there seemingly have been some gas tank issues that have come up. Graff is very skilled on his feet. He has great short offense as well as a text book single leg. With the new rules, will he be able to get a lead and keep it for 6 minutes? If so, he could break up the seemingly impermeable big 3.
Jimmy Kennedy-He seemed like a pretty obvious choice for my wildcard considering some of the successes he’s been having. Maybe he’s not terribly out of left field, as I’ve always viewed him as a threat at 60 KG. Kennedy is training at that Cliff Keen Wrestling Club in Michigan which is looking more and more threatening with each tournament. Kennedy has a win over Humphrey this year already and was not at the U.S. Open due to an injury. Jimmy likes to control ties from both a Russian and underhooks. He likes to use level changes and fakes to set up his leg attacks, but it is not too often he pulls the trigger on shots. He has a great underhook throw by off of his opponents’ shots and he also transitions quite well from attack to turn. Scoring in bunches will be key in this tournament with cumulative scoring and his defense coupled with his attacks will keep him in lots of matches.
Predictions:
1. Logan Stieber-in 3 matches
2. Reece Humphrey
3. Coleman Scott
4. Jimmy Kennedy
5. Tyler Graff
66 KG
This weight is definitely going through a transition period. With Jared Frayer and Teyon Ware out of the mix now, the common mainstay at 66 remains Brent Metcalf. Kellen Russell and Jordan Oliver have emerged as the two heir apparents for 66. Kellen had a brief stint last year at 60 KG, but as we are seeing countless times, guys are having more success up a weight than they are pulling to an uncomfortable one. I’m glad to see Russell’s decision pay off. Same for Oliver, who was a 60 KG and 133 for the last few years. He threw his hat in the ring at 66 last year at the OTT’s and showed the glimpses of greatness we saw at the NCAA level. Now a full sized 66 he looks not only like our potential World team rep, but also someone who could come home with some World hardware.
U.S. Open Champion Sitting in Finals:
Russell-The Gyro! Kellen looked phenomenal at 66 at the US Open. Kellen is better utilizing the tools that made him a great Folkstyler: Nearly impervious defense, timely offense, great explosion, speed and power. He has always had a great duck under, but it is even more effective in Freestyle since it gives him the ability to score with a push out in case he can’t get all the way behind his guy. He hit this in quite a few matches including JO in the finals. Kellen has always had a knack for being able to get a score when he absolutely needed one. We’ve seen it countless times in college, and we saw it in the US Open finals. With the new rules I think he has a fine transition. He did a great job keeping the offensively diverse Oliver off his legs for the most part. His ability to transition from your shot to him being all the way behind you is one of the quickest you’ll see. It’s why you don’t see many experienced wrestlers shooting a high volume of leg attacks against him. He’s going to re-direct your head and go behind. As I write this and as I watch, I think he’s the most skilled guy here and brings the complete package. While much is made of Oliver’s athletic ability, I think it is possible Russell is the most gifted athlete from a strength/speed/quickness standpoint at 66 KG.
Brent Metcalf- The Hawkeye legend will have his work cut out for him if he wants to make his 2nd World team. Many people have touted Brent as the guy at 66 with the emergence of the new rules. The common sentiment is that 6 minutes of cumulative scoring will get Brent back wrestling like he did in college breaking even great wrestlers after a few minutes of relentless pace. My fear is that that Brent Metcalf, as we knew him, is now gone. Even through his last year of college, we saw a more reserved and controlled Metcalf who managed matches more than any in years past. The rule changes do not change some of the real issues Brent has had since transitioning to Freestyle. Brent get’s exposed on his shots too much. This has caused him to shoot less, thus he becomes another wrestler who picks their spots. He cannot afford to throw caution to the wind. All this being said, he is squarely in the upper echelon here, and it will never be a question of work ethic with Brent. Rather, his ability to convert his leg attacks into scores for him and him alone, and his ability to keep guys off his legs, will tell the tale. I felt he wrestled better against Oliver at the Open and believe he can reverse that outcome to make the finals. Once there, I think Kellen Russel poses a number of problems for him. I am not sure if he will be able to penetrate Russell’s defense and convert scores. I also believe the speed Russell possesses will be tough for him to neutralize.
Jordan Oliver- In my end of year write up after the College season I trumpeted Oliver as the future at 66 kilos. That could very well still be the case, but Kellen Russel’s emergence has me questioning my stance considerably. While Oliver is exceptionally gifted offensively, I didn’t see the offensive output I’d hoped we would coming into the U.S. Open. Oliver uses a lot of fakes and level changes to open up his opponents where he likes to shoot a sweep, double or the occassional low single. He has great speed, but doesn’t rely on it exclusively. He is a gifted technician from ties as well. His match with Metcalf really could have gone either way. If the 1st period push out decision isn’t reversed and if the ball draw doesn’t go Oliver’s way it could very well have been Metcalf’s match. He wasn’t getting his shots off like I thought he might and looked tentative. To be fair, he’s competing against senior level guys, and it’s not College wrestlers anymore. That transition is not a simple one, and perhaps I was a bit unrealistic about the possible growing pains he might experience. He notched a phenomenal comeback win over Kurbanaliev, who just won Russian Nationals. Yes, Russia, the cold place, with the awesome wrestlers. That fact alone should give Oliver all the confidence he needs to let it fly for 6 minutes (or less).
Adam Hall- Hall is coming off an impressive showing at the U.S. Open where he placed 4th. I’d say that is about his ceiling for this weight. Very much the same guy he was in college. Not special athletically but great hustle and can get to legs consistently. I would be fairly surprised to see a guy of Hall’s caliber outside the top 6 or so.
Jason Chamberlain- The Bronco graduate has always been a skilled Freestyler. Jason has represented the US on the junior level before and just missed making the University World team a few weeks ago. He wrestles within himself very well and picks his spots. He will keep matches close and look for his leg attacks on occasion. I don’t think he has the style to beat elite guys, but it cannot be denied that he will make even the most seasoned Freestyle work for every point.
Wild Card:
James Green: The guy has (or at least had) the Twitter handle “Never2Young2Win.” That sounds about right. I wussed out on my University preview and took a “wait and see” approach with James, as I hadn’t seen him compete enough in Freestyle. I fully acknowledged that he had all the necessary skills needed to be an elite Freestyler, but sometimes I want to see how they put the entire package together. Green looked great at Univerisites, scoring lots of points with his double leg and power. He can tend to give his legs up a bit much and is definitely vulnerable in Par Terre. He’s akin to an unpolished diamond as it pertains to Freestyle. That being said, a diamond is still a diamond. His stock is high and on the rise. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if Green knocks off someone (or even a few guys) who has been a fixture of the 66 Senior ladder.
Predictions:
1. Kellen Russell-In 2 matches
2. Brent Metcalf
3. Jordan Oliver
4. James Green
5. Adam Hall
74 KG
So this is the big one, the one people want to see and the one that many are anticipating the most. There are so many storylines that can go along with this weight, but I’ll try to hit a few: Jordan Burroughs is the best wrestler walking the Earth right now. Andrew Howe is absolutely World Class, but stuck behind the best on Earth. Howe looked great in his first tournament back thrashing everyone in his path. Kyle Dake looks to compete for the first time since the Rumble on the Rails in NYC. Coming off of his historic season, many believe Dake will be Burroughs number 1 challenger for years to come. Trent Paulson may not be the young, hip choice to break through, but he’s nearly as logical a selection as Howe or Dake to challenge Burroughs. Then there’s David Taylor. David sits on top of the bracket of the challenge tournament. He showed he has already made some adjustments in his Freestyle game en route to a 2nd place(to Burroughs) at the U.S. Open.
U.S. Open Champion Sitting in Finals
Jordan Burroughs-Yes, he’s the best wrestler on the planet. The fact that some people are questioning whether he will occupy this spot may seem insulting to a wrestler of his caliber. Or is 74 just that deep? I tend to think that someone with an unblemished record over the course of 2 years is going to be a bit tough to beat 2 out of 3 times. While this is our deepest weight, he’d be my first pick to make the World Team of any of the weights. His abilities are at times placed in too restrictive of a box that don’t appreciate the full complement of tools. His slogan “Got Doubles” possibly got people to think that this is the essence of his game, but I don’t view him as just a great athlete with an unstoppable double(though he is that). Burroughs is well developed in many aspects of his game. His defense is often overlooked but is perhaps one of his great strengths. He re-directs opponents shots with tremendous speed and is able to get takedowns off of many of their shots.
Burroughs is a creative wrestler when you get on his legs, able to scramble and/or come with great hip pressure that prevents the finish. Getting to his legs isn’t even half the battle, it’s maybe 1/3rd. If you’re brazen enough to shoot on Burroughs, his re-attacks are so well timed and quick many opponents are conceding takedowns before they have a chance to defend. On his feet he does love a double, however, his head inside single and low single are unquestionably World class, and not just compliments to his offense, rather integral parts of his scoring.
When building the perfect wrestler, they’re going to look a lot like Burroughs: Compact, chiseled with long arms and tremendous explosion. His mind, is probably his most under-rated quality. In the 2011 World Championships adversity after adversity came his way and you would never have thought he wasn’t up big in any of his matches. His mental strength wrestling the singlet-puller Tsargush was admirable. Ignoring the blatant cheating, instead finding a way to overcome instead of make excuses. Then his World Semi against Aliyev which we actually saw points taken away from Burroughs, where we saw a wrestler blatantly targeting a swollen ear( that he eventually was able to bust), where we saw horrific officiating, Burroughs never missed a beat or batted an eye. He keeps wrestling. Not only is his mental strength on full display in his matches, but also in the work he puts in to be great. Burroughs has continued to add layers to his game. Instead of being satisfied with where he is, he continues to work to widen the gap from the rest of the World. You guys can have your dark-horses. I’ll take Burroughs.
David Taylor-The Magic Man sits atop the challenge tournament bracket. Coming off a runner up finish at the U.S. Open and a win at the Rumble on the Rails sets Taylor up with some great momentum coming into this tournament. That being said, the host of opponents Taylor will see are significantly superior to the guys Taylor saw at the Open (Apart from Burroughs). Adding Howe, Paulson and Dake to this tournament adds three guys that I believe present significant stylistic mismatches for Taylor. We saw all year how Kyle Dake’s strength (among other things) was able to neutralize much of what makes Taylor the prolific scorer he is. In this tournament Howe, Paulson and Dake all present similar problems for Taylor. DT utilizes great motion and pulling on the head to open up opponents ankles. He also has a great re-shot he uses against overly-ambitious opponents. Defensively Taylor is creative and crafty. His ability to expose from opponents shots will be a valuable tool for Taylor moving forward.
While I’m a big fan of his style, I don’t believe the Challenge tournament finals is in his future. Rather, Taylor will likely be in a battle for 3rd/4th.
Kyle Dake- Kid Dynamite took a well earned break that prevented us from seeing him in the U.S. Open or Universities. It is tough to say where Dake falls in the pecking order at 74. The last time Dake saw Howe the matches were fairly tight with Howe able to get to legs much more than Dake(pretty sure Dake never got to a leg actually). That being said that was coming shortly after Dakes 149 lb National Championship (so many to keep track of) and was wrestled at 74. 2 years later Dake is a full grown man at 74, so I’m curious as to how that shifts the pendulum for Dake. If he is the 4 and Paulson is the 5 here, he may well have to go through Paulson, Taylor, Howe to get to Burroughs. Just playing the numbers game it is very possible to see Dake dropped somewhere along the line. Dake brings impeccable positioning, great mat awareness along with his ever improving arsenal of leg attacks. He has his trusty knee pull single in his back pocket, but has also shown he can get to the low ankle as well. He can sit to the corner very well when you’re on his leg where he is able to crotch lift for exposure. He presents a myriad of problems to even the best leg attackers. I said I was done picking against Dake for the time being during the college season. As we enter the Senior level, I think a new set of challenges will present iself and with that a period of transition and new challenges will arise. I think he adjusts and at some point ultimately becomes the next guy in line behind Burroughs. Just not yet.
Andrew Howe- In watching his film not just from this year, but World Team Trials, there are so many “what ifs” that seemingly could have gone the other way for Howe to make the World/Olympic team. What if he finished that first period go behind (where JB had one of his most impressive defensive moments) in the World Team Trials? What if he hadn’t torn his ACL? The fact is that as great as Howe is, Burroughs is just a bit better and also a bit more clutch, getting the points when he has to. Howe has many world class attributes: Hand fighting, short offense (where he particularly gave Burroughs trouble), knee pull single and defense. In addition to those, he also can wrestle at a high pace for a long time, and can wear on opponents. He loves to beat on the head and wear you out. I had some reservations about Howe before his University showing, but he appears to be all the way back and ready to go. I can’t wait to see it, and I like him to navigate the Challenge Tourney.
Wild Card:
Trent Paulson-We ran an article about Paulson labeling him the “forgotten man” at 74. He has been very much active on the Freestyle scene, and probably has the most international experience of any wrestler at this weight. Perhaps the attraction of the new stars to this weight: Dake, Howe, Taylor, Burroughs, has left the grinding veteran in the back seat for many fans. Paulson brings tremendous physical strength to this weight. He is phenomenal with his chest lock, which even gave Burroughs some tense moments. He has great defense and is very tough on top. He could hit Dake in the Quarters, and I like Dake to find a way to win there. It’s entirely possible he beats Dake, if he does I think he beats Taylor and hits Howe in the Challenge finals. Paulson may well feel forgotten, but he will have the opportunity to refresh our memories this weekend.
Predictions:
1. Jordan Burroughs
2. Andrew Howe
3. Kyle Dake
4. Trent Paulson
5. David Taylor
84 KG
With multiple time World Team member Jake Herbert sitting this season out to recover from injury, it opens up 84 to a variety of guys all operating on a similar talent level. Keith Gavin comes in as the prohibitive favorite. He spent some time early in his Freestyle career down at 74, and as we’ve seen time and time again the move up proves to be the right one. There are a few guys who will nip at the Factoryville native and Pittsburgh Panthers heels, but ultimately this will be Gavins weight to lose.
U.S. Open Champion Sitting in Finals
Keith Gavin- The U.S. Open champ loves working out of his underhook where he hits a variety of leg attacks. He also has a nice, high single and can work other upper body ties well such as a Russian and arm drags. He is cool under pressure remaining unphased when put in tough situations. He has great defense when guys get on his legs (check his US Open semi with Reader to see what I mean). I think he’s just a notch ahead of the rest of the competition, and I think he takes this weight.
Clayton Foster- Hadn’t seen much of Foster until the U.S. Open where he had a fine showing, dropping a tight one to Gavin. Still loves to paw at your head and shoot his beautiful double he used so effectively at NCAA’s. Doesn’t have the tremendous defense you’d like to see from an upper weight, but if his offense is clicking he can be hard to match takedown for takedown. I like that he is an efficient finisher and gets the takedown quickly. If he sees Gavin again he will have to have a better answer for his underhook series. I’d really like to see Foster and Reader hit as well and believe we will see them in the Challenge Tournament finals if seeds permit.
Jon Reader- The Gladiator looks to jump levels at 84 KG. The ISU graduate and National Champion brings a lot of what made him a great Folkstyler to the freestyle game. Great pace, frequent leg attacks (beautiful low sweep) and can work both sides of your body. He also can capitalize off of errant leg attacks with his punishing front headlock series. He’s a very complete wrestler who absolutely has what it takes to make this World team
Phil Keddy- Keddy provides key depth to this weight. While he may not have the chops to knock at the door for a World Team spot, the Hawkeye All American has proven he can compete with the best having notched wins over Jon Reader and Ed Ruth. He still loves his underhooks like he did in his Hawkeye days and uses them well to get to leg attacks or throw bys. He uses his big hips to punish anyone who gets stuck under him on leg attacks. He is physically quite strong but lacks the speed that some of the elite 84’s possess. It is possible I’m selling Keddy a bit short here as he has shown he can compete with the best, I just feel there are some better talents out there.
Wild Card:
Ed Ruth- I’m somewhat confused by what Ed Ruth is going to be in Freestyle. In College we see a prodigy who is darn near impossible to take down who can seemingly get takedown’s at will. In freestyle, he still seems a bit uncomfortable, getting pushed to the limits by Kenny Courts and Max Thommusseit at Universities. That being said he was able to win those tight ones. At the Open we saw him able to beat Francois and Trotman, while dropping matches to Foster and Reader. I think Ruth still has some work to do to enter the conversation of elite at 84, but with his natural talent, training situation, and track record of success, I think we see Ed figure it out sooner rather than later. His misdirection shot is about as unstoppable as any shot out there, and his ability to finish is second to none. He still has work to do in Par Terre, getting turned on occasion and struggling to create turns of his own (something he is masterful at in college). I’ve been a Ruth fan for awhile now, so at the very least he will be fun to watch this tournament.
Predictions:
1. Keith Gavin-In 3 matches
2. Jon Reader
3. Clayton Foster
4. Phil Keddy
5. Ed Ruth
96 KG
This weight has a Jake Varner shaped hole in it for this year with the Olympic Gold Medalist taking the year off. While the loss of Varner definitely hurts the overall strength of the weight, it cannot be denied that Jake would have his work cut out for him to make another World Team. Varner took a loss to Wynn Michalak earlier this year, and has always had battles with JD Bergman.
U.S. Open Champion Sitting in Finals
JD Bergman-Bergman navigated the Varner-less U.S. Open field en route to a title over Chris Pendleton. Bergman is a horse at 96. He works well from his underhooks and limits risk by not taking as many shots as you would see a guy like Pendleton or Michalak take. JD is stingy defensively with many opponents struggling to get to his legs. Once on his legs, Bergman has unique athleticism that enables him to sit to the corner and old on for stalemates, or ideally, expose his opponents. If he is a favorite here, he is a narrow one. At least in my mind.
Chris Pendleton- The dynamic Cowboy(in both competition and coaching from Oklahoma St. to Wyoming) is having a bit of a resurgence up at 96. He was here last year, but seems to really be hitting his stride. H always was phenomenally athletic with great speed and feel for his opponents pressure. He has a great reshot and hi-c. His moving up makes him one of the more athletic and mobile guys up at 96, that being said in watching his matches you don’t see him giving up the strength you would expect. He actually can match guys like Michalak and Bergman strength wise. His loss to Bergman was narrow and primarily due to the now dead ball-draw (at long last). Pendleton seems hungry (and not just because he’s an upperweight) and motivated for a spot on the World Team. His narrow defeat at the hands of Bergman may motivate him all the way to the top.
Wynn Michalak- Seeing Wynn knock off Varner was a bit of a surprise to me. Just a year ago he went 0-2 at the Olympic Trials falling to David Zabriske and Craig Brester. He loves to work with upper body ties especially an over under where he can get to a nice, knee pick. Once on top he can use a side headlock turn similar to the one used by Jake Varner and Clarion All American James Fleming. He can also use a high gut. He’s got great size and strength and underrated athleticism to boot. He needs to avoid taking errant shots and giving his opponents easy scoring opportunities. Those sorts of mistakes are magnified up at 96. All this being said Wynn winning (couldn’t resist) would not surprise me in the least.
Les Sigman- I was quite intrigued when I learned Les Sigman would be dropping down to 96. I never found him to be a particularly undersized 120, so I was curious what he would look like down at 96. He had a fair showing at the Open but dropped matches to Michalak and Brandvold. He works a lot from upper body and rarely attacks legs. He is at his best countering and exposing opponents’ shots. He has a variety of, throws foot sweeps and exposures. Big point scorers at this weight are hard to come by. If he can lock up one of his big moves, he could pull an upset and potentially challenge for another World Team spot.
Brandon Halsey- Not going to lie, I wasn’t sure who Brandon Halsey was. I vaguely remember him in college at Cal State Bakersfield where I think I noticed his strapping physique first and foremost. Really well put together kid. In addition to great size and strength he is pretty fun to watch, as he is not afraid to take risks. He looks for push outs a lot, but he also isn’t afraid to throw a head lock or an arm spin either. He seems to be hitting his stride well in Freestyle and he has the strength and guts to make him an ideal candidate for the wildcard spot.
Predictions:
1. Chris Pendleton-In 3 matches
2. JD Bergman
3. Wynn Michalak
4. Les Sigman
5. Brandon Halsey
120 KG
It is pretty disappointing to see that Dom won’t be able to compete (Dom tested positive for a banned stimulant). As a fan I hope it was an honest mistake and it is able to be resolved quickly so we can see the full complement of heavyweight talent. That being said there is still a lot to look forward too. Tervel Dlagnev looks poised to make another World Team and it will take an unprecedented performance for him to be ousted from his spot. His old rivals Mocco(MMA), Sigman(down a weight) and Bradley for various reasons are all gone. This puts Tervel at a real advantage sitting in the finals waiting for the winner.
U.S. Open Runner-Up Sitting in Finals
Tervel Dlagnev- Coming into last year I thought Tervel had a great shot at winning the Gold Medal in London. That wasn’t in the cards for Dlagnev, but I’m still convinced he can compete with anyone (his win over Taymazov at Worlds 2 years should help you feel likewise). He’s a very active heavyweight who is extremely gifted at attacking legs. His constant pressure can be scouted to a degree, but with Dom out, I’m not sure anyone will be able to slow the big guy down. He likes to shoot a low single, but also has a nice sweep. With the new rules favoring offense, I’d be surprised to see him drop a match.
Tyrell Fortune- Here is a guy you cannot take your eye of for even one second. The high-flying Fortune makes a habit of lateral dropping some of the NCAA’s best talent. In less than a month he launched the guys who combined for the last 3 D1 National Championships Zach Rey and Tony Nelson. For a guy who used to compete at 96 he has put on some quality weight that has made him able to compete strength wise with the monsters at 120. I wouldn’t have believed this coming into this Freestyle season, but I think he’s the favorite to make the finals against Dlagnev.
Matt Meuleners- I don’t follow D II wrestling too closely (or, at all) so you’ll have to pardon a bit of my ignorance in regard to Matt Meuleners. For many of the guys I preview I’ve seen from around 20-30 matches(yes, that’s a lot, and no, I don’t know what’s wrong with me), so I have more of a refined view of who they are as wrestlers. In the few matches I’ve seen of Meuleners he strikes me as a very active heavy, who doesn’t have the prototypical build. Lanky and lean, he uses speed and level changes to get to his leg attacks. He also likes to paw at your head to open you up as well. He’s a nice young prospect who adds quality depth to this weight.
Zach Rey- Rey reprensents the style and build of a traditional heavyweight. Barrell chested, with massive quads and hips, he is still working on making his style transition over to Freestyle. He struggles to fire off leg attacks but when he does it is from fakes where he likes to grab a high single leg. The new rules may make life more difficult for the offensivey challenged Rey. Or perhaps it will motivate him to wrestle a more offensive style.
Wild Card:
Tony Nelson - Tony is coming off a 2nd NCAA title and a runner up(to Fortune) finish at this years Universities. Nelson brings many of the necessary tools for an effective 120. Great size, athleticism and positioning. He needs to watch his pushing as he is not a skilled upper body wrestler (see the match he went upper body with Z last year and with Fortune this year). He is at his best countering leg attacks and picking spots for his own shots (frequently a single). I think we will see a hungrier Nelson coming into this tournament, and he has a fine chance of crashing the finals if he is clicking on all cylinders.
Predictions:
1. Tervel Dlagnev
2. Tyrell Fortune
3. Tony Nelson
4. Zach Rey
5. Matt Meuleners
World Team trials can be super difficult to predict in certain weights. When you don’t see these guys in the flow of a season like you do in college it is very difficult to determine health, momentum and improvement. Some of these guys you haven’t seen in action in months, and predicting where they will wind up is quite a task.
If I were to rank my World team members in order of confidence I’d go:
Jordan Burroughs
Tervel Dlagnev
Sam Hazewinkel
Keith Gavin
Logan Stieber
Kellen Russell
Chris Pendleton
Thanks for reading!
Christian Pyles, College Analyst
Welcome to the Big Show! America's top athletes will all be on board for this one in the wrestling rich town of Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Ironically, the IOC debacle has rallied this country's wrestling fans to the international styles. It seems the anticipation for our nation's senior athletes is trending upward.
And it comes at a great time. The depth at each weight is particularly intriguing. Mega-match ups loom as our top talent vie to represent their country later in the year at World's in Budapest, Hungary.
Here we'll handicap the major players at each weight while highlighting their styles, strengths, and weaknesses.
55 KG
This is a weight with a slightly new look domestically compared to last years Olympic Trials. It has decent depth, but that perhaps shouldn’t be associated with strength. We haven’t seen a medal at this weight since Cejudo’s Beijing Gold. With Nick Simmons trying out the Greco scene (and also food) up at 60 KG it leaves 55 a bit simpler to navigate. There are a few contenders and a few up and comers who will be in the mix for a spot on the World Team.
U.S. Open Champion-Sitting in Finals
Obe Blanc-He’s looking to make his second world team and continue to keep his momentum going from an impressive U.S. Open. Obe likes to use head-tap fake, head-tap to set up his leg attacks. Blanc is a quick wrestler who shoots a nice low ankle and single. He has never been the biggest at 55, can leave himself vulnerable to re-shots, and can be turned in par terre. Fortunately for Obe, I don’t believe the host of challengers offers the same top game challenges that the Iranians or Nick Simmons have, so I don’t see him needing to worry so much about getting turned. I thought he looked great at the Rumble on the Rails, just gave up an unfortunate turn at an inopportune time. I believe Obe is the most complete wrestler at this weight and also believe he has the best offense of anyone at 55. I think Haze is the biggest threat to Obe with his great positioning and stingy defense.
Sam Hazewinkel-The former Olympian comes into the World Team Trials looking to provide some consistency for the United States at 55 KG. The new rules may or may not be especially beneficial for Haze who at times can struggle to score. Sam is at his best when he controls ties and pace from the Russian tie. I would describe Sam’s leg attacks as fairly low risk. He doesn’t like to hit his knee when penetrating (though he will on occasion), and likes to use his legs/feet to help get to the leg. He’s fairly unique in this aspect. Sam is a savvy wrestler with elite defense and is at his best when he gets the lead and hangs on. While he is great at controlling ties/wrists (which can partially be attributed to his days on the Senior Greco scene), he can struggle to keep guys off his legs when shooting from space (a strength of Obe’s). So this will be something to watch for. His style doesn’t lend itself to comebacks.
Frank Perrelli-He’s a nice young prospect. He’s been competing on the Senior level for some time now, so even though he is somewhat young, that doesn’t mean he is green. Frank has good speed in general but especially with level changes. He has a few nice takedowns but really uses a lot of ducks and a single. Perrelli has quality defense as well as decent top game. At times Frank has shown to be vulnerable in a front head lock. Also he can tend to rely on speed to get takedowns and, can take shots without quality set ups and get punished for it.
Brandon Precin- He has made a nice adjustment to the Freestyle game since he graduated from Northwestern. His style transitions quite well to the next level. He is excellent in ties and shoots a nice single leg. He is an extremely well rounded wrestler. He has great physical strength though he doesn’t appear to be physically imposing. Anyone who has watched much of Precin is acutely aware of his dump he can hit when he gets your elbow. Though many know it’s coming, he is creative in both how he gets your elbow and how he sets his dump up. This can be a big move for him considering he frequently exposes guys with this takedown. He’s coming off a 3rd place showing at the Open and will look to land himself in the upper echelon of 55’s.
Mark McKnight-The ex Nittany Lion has been making great strides and provided some quality depth at 55. He has quite a good motor which will only help him more with the new rules. He is great at using heavy hands for snaps and getting his opponents out of position. He has a fairly nice single and at times can get exposures. He’s beaten some quality guys such as Perrelli and is poised to
Zach Sanders-Had a really rough U.S. Open placing 8th. In watching his matches it seemed he experienced some sort of knee injury, so perhaps that’s what caused him to drop a few head scratchers (including to Steve Mytych) He has always had elite motion but, gives up legs too much. Still is able to hit his beautiful inside trip. For a smaller guy he can really wear on your head and uses that to get to his duck under. One of his finest attributes has always been a great motor which will only become a more powerful tool as we transition into these new rules. I expect Sanders to be in the mix for a top 5 finish by the end of the Trials, health permitting.
Wildcard:
Angel Escobedo-The ex-Hoosier is someone a few years ago I felt was the future of this weight. Phenomenal athleticism, tactically wise, explosive and physically imposing at 55. I also felt leaving Indiana for the Ohio RTC would give him the elite training situation he lacked in Indiana. So far I’ve been pretty wrong about that. It is possible that the shoulder injuries that have troubled him really hampered his progress. I have noticed his offensive output has decreased compared to his early senior level days and late NCAA matches. This could be attributed to the shoulder injury as well. If he’s healthy and let’s it fly, he’s a nightmare match up. If he’s not that guy, it could be a long (actually short) day for Angel. I’m holding out hope.
Prediction:
1. Sam Hazewinkel-In 3 matches
2. Obe Blanc
3. Angel Escobedo
4. Brandon Precin
5. Frank Perrelli
60 KG
This weight’s pecking order is pretty tough to determine. On any given day the combination of Humphrey, Scott and Stieber could pan out in a variety of different orders. Not to be disregarded, the likes of Jimmy Kennedy and Tyler Graff have wins over this staunch top 3. With Shawn Bunch out of the fold and Mike Zadick moving on, it allows some new faces opportunities to crack the top 5. There’s still some serious Ohio RTC presence with Humphrey and Stieber both representing the world class club. This weight will be one to keep an eye on, but in all likelihood we have a Scott v. Stieber Challenge final.
U.S. Open Champion Sitting in Finals:
Reece Humphrey- Hump set’s his aim on another World Team spot. After just missing the Olympic Team, Reece has continued to compete and work for his illusive World Medal. Reece is not a high out-put wrestler. He keeps his attempts low and picks his spots rarely. With the old rules he was frequently (seemingly) content to go to the ball draw. This could possibly be a bi-product of the rules, and he may adjust his style accordingly. It is also possible that he is just not a wrestler who will look to score enough, and the new rules could hurt him. Whichever is the case, we will find out in the Trials finals where I believe he will be tested and ultimately beaten. His wrestling IQ is unquestionably high, his defense is elite, and he has some big moves from his Greco background as well. He has a nice arm spin he can use on wrestlers who leave their arms out and push too much. His athleticism is probably his most under-rated attribute, but that is partially because we don’t see it on full display enough, he has great speed, explosion and mat awareness that make him difficult to defeat.
Logan Stieber-Watching this kids progression has been a blast to watch. Knowing that we are still very early into his career makes it all the more exciting. Logan wrestles the way I believe you’re supposed to: Hard. Constantly on the attack, willing to make a mistake for the opportunity to score and score some more. Never sitting on a lead, rather building and looking to dominate. we saw plenty of that this year in his NCAA competition and we have seen it in Freestyle as well. Logan already has a Jr. World Silver medal to his credit. He has tremendous strength and power he uses alongside a phenomenal array of takedowns. He has some great throw-bys and slide by’s he uses as well has a beautiful single leg and double as well. With all this gushing it may sound as though I’ve been afflicted by “Stieber Fever” as they say. That very well could be the case. He looked fair at the U.S. Open placing 4th. Logan dropped a tough one to Humphrey on a somewhat controversial clinch call. After that he dropped another match to Tyler Graff where he wrestled fairly sloppy and gave up his legs far too much to an attacker as skilled as Tyler. I’m openly rooting for Logan to take the spot as I think his pace and strength will be a nightmare for the entire Planet.
Coleman Scott-The Cowboy is looking to take the 60 KG reigns back. Our Olympic Bronze medalist is coming of a runner up finish at the U.S. Open where he fell to Reece Humphrey in a tight one. Coleman makes his money with his great variety of attacks. He was best known for a while for his beautiful double, but he has ducks, hi-c’s, low single and a sweep that he can all use effectively. He has a unique stance that resembles some of the European wrestlers. He’s great at using level change fakes to set up his attacks. Coleman a seasoned vet at 60 and is in a great training situation under the wing of Coach Smith as well as a host of training partners that will sharpen him for competition. USA will be once again in great hands if Coleman were to make this World team.
Tyler Graff-The Badger may be a notch behind some of these guys but his win over Stieber definitely has me paying attention and interested. Since his Redshirt Freshman year there seemingly have been some gas tank issues that have come up. Graff is very skilled on his feet. He has great short offense as well as a text book single leg. With the new rules, will he be able to get a lead and keep it for 6 minutes? If so, he could break up the seemingly impermeable big 3.
Jimmy Kennedy-He seemed like a pretty obvious choice for my wildcard considering some of the successes he’s been having. Maybe he’s not terribly out of left field, as I’ve always viewed him as a threat at 60 KG. Kennedy is training at that Cliff Keen Wrestling Club in Michigan which is looking more and more threatening with each tournament. Kennedy has a win over Humphrey this year already and was not at the U.S. Open due to an injury. Jimmy likes to control ties from both a Russian and underhooks. He likes to use level changes and fakes to set up his leg attacks, but it is not too often he pulls the trigger on shots. He has a great underhook throw by off of his opponents’ shots and he also transitions quite well from attack to turn. Scoring in bunches will be key in this tournament with cumulative scoring and his defense coupled with his attacks will keep him in lots of matches.
Predictions:
1. Logan Stieber-in 3 matches
2. Reece Humphrey
3. Coleman Scott
4. Jimmy Kennedy
5. Tyler Graff
66 KG
This weight is definitely going through a transition period. With Jared Frayer and Teyon Ware out of the mix now, the common mainstay at 66 remains Brent Metcalf. Kellen Russell and Jordan Oliver have emerged as the two heir apparents for 66. Kellen had a brief stint last year at 60 KG, but as we are seeing countless times, guys are having more success up a weight than they are pulling to an uncomfortable one. I’m glad to see Russell’s decision pay off. Same for Oliver, who was a 60 KG and 133 for the last few years. He threw his hat in the ring at 66 last year at the OTT’s and showed the glimpses of greatness we saw at the NCAA level. Now a full sized 66 he looks not only like our potential World team rep, but also someone who could come home with some World hardware.
U.S. Open Champion Sitting in Finals:
Russell-The Gyro! Kellen looked phenomenal at 66 at the US Open. Kellen is better utilizing the tools that made him a great Folkstyler: Nearly impervious defense, timely offense, great explosion, speed and power. He has always had a great duck under, but it is even more effective in Freestyle since it gives him the ability to score with a push out in case he can’t get all the way behind his guy. He hit this in quite a few matches including JO in the finals. Kellen has always had a knack for being able to get a score when he absolutely needed one. We’ve seen it countless times in college, and we saw it in the US Open finals. With the new rules I think he has a fine transition. He did a great job keeping the offensively diverse Oliver off his legs for the most part. His ability to transition from your shot to him being all the way behind you is one of the quickest you’ll see. It’s why you don’t see many experienced wrestlers shooting a high volume of leg attacks against him. He’s going to re-direct your head and go behind. As I write this and as I watch, I think he’s the most skilled guy here and brings the complete package. While much is made of Oliver’s athletic ability, I think it is possible Russell is the most gifted athlete from a strength/speed/quickness standpoint at 66 KG.
Brent Metcalf- The Hawkeye legend will have his work cut out for him if he wants to make his 2nd World team. Many people have touted Brent as the guy at 66 with the emergence of the new rules. The common sentiment is that 6 minutes of cumulative scoring will get Brent back wrestling like he did in college breaking even great wrestlers after a few minutes of relentless pace. My fear is that that Brent Metcalf, as we knew him, is now gone. Even through his last year of college, we saw a more reserved and controlled Metcalf who managed matches more than any in years past. The rule changes do not change some of the real issues Brent has had since transitioning to Freestyle. Brent get’s exposed on his shots too much. This has caused him to shoot less, thus he becomes another wrestler who picks their spots. He cannot afford to throw caution to the wind. All this being said, he is squarely in the upper echelon here, and it will never be a question of work ethic with Brent. Rather, his ability to convert his leg attacks into scores for him and him alone, and his ability to keep guys off his legs, will tell the tale. I felt he wrestled better against Oliver at the Open and believe he can reverse that outcome to make the finals. Once there, I think Kellen Russel poses a number of problems for him. I am not sure if he will be able to penetrate Russell’s defense and convert scores. I also believe the speed Russell possesses will be tough for him to neutralize.
Jordan Oliver- In my end of year write up after the College season I trumpeted Oliver as the future at 66 kilos. That could very well still be the case, but Kellen Russel’s emergence has me questioning my stance considerably. While Oliver is exceptionally gifted offensively, I didn’t see the offensive output I’d hoped we would coming into the U.S. Open. Oliver uses a lot of fakes and level changes to open up his opponents where he likes to shoot a sweep, double or the occassional low single. He has great speed, but doesn’t rely on it exclusively. He is a gifted technician from ties as well. His match with Metcalf really could have gone either way. If the 1st period push out decision isn’t reversed and if the ball draw doesn’t go Oliver’s way it could very well have been Metcalf’s match. He wasn’t getting his shots off like I thought he might and looked tentative. To be fair, he’s competing against senior level guys, and it’s not College wrestlers anymore. That transition is not a simple one, and perhaps I was a bit unrealistic about the possible growing pains he might experience. He notched a phenomenal comeback win over Kurbanaliev, who just won Russian Nationals. Yes, Russia, the cold place, with the awesome wrestlers. That fact alone should give Oliver all the confidence he needs to let it fly for 6 minutes (or less).
Adam Hall- Hall is coming off an impressive showing at the U.S. Open where he placed 4th. I’d say that is about his ceiling for this weight. Very much the same guy he was in college. Not special athletically but great hustle and can get to legs consistently. I would be fairly surprised to see a guy of Hall’s caliber outside the top 6 or so.
Jason Chamberlain- The Bronco graduate has always been a skilled Freestyler. Jason has represented the US on the junior level before and just missed making the University World team a few weeks ago. He wrestles within himself very well and picks his spots. He will keep matches close and look for his leg attacks on occasion. I don’t think he has the style to beat elite guys, but it cannot be denied that he will make even the most seasoned Freestyle work for every point.
Wild Card:
James Green: The guy has (or at least had) the Twitter handle “Never2Young2Win.” That sounds about right. I wussed out on my University preview and took a “wait and see” approach with James, as I hadn’t seen him compete enough in Freestyle. I fully acknowledged that he had all the necessary skills needed to be an elite Freestyler, but sometimes I want to see how they put the entire package together. Green looked great at Univerisites, scoring lots of points with his double leg and power. He can tend to give his legs up a bit much and is definitely vulnerable in Par Terre. He’s akin to an unpolished diamond as it pertains to Freestyle. That being said, a diamond is still a diamond. His stock is high and on the rise. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if Green knocks off someone (or even a few guys) who has been a fixture of the 66 Senior ladder.
Predictions:
1. Kellen Russell-In 2 matches
2. Brent Metcalf
3. Jordan Oliver
4. James Green
5. Adam Hall
74 KG
So this is the big one, the one people want to see and the one that many are anticipating the most. There are so many storylines that can go along with this weight, but I’ll try to hit a few: Jordan Burroughs is the best wrestler walking the Earth right now. Andrew Howe is absolutely World Class, but stuck behind the best on Earth. Howe looked great in his first tournament back thrashing everyone in his path. Kyle Dake looks to compete for the first time since the Rumble on the Rails in NYC. Coming off of his historic season, many believe Dake will be Burroughs number 1 challenger for years to come. Trent Paulson may not be the young, hip choice to break through, but he’s nearly as logical a selection as Howe or Dake to challenge Burroughs. Then there’s David Taylor. David sits on top of the bracket of the challenge tournament. He showed he has already made some adjustments in his Freestyle game en route to a 2nd place(to Burroughs) at the U.S. Open.
U.S. Open Champion Sitting in Finals
Jordan Burroughs-Yes, he’s the best wrestler on the planet. The fact that some people are questioning whether he will occupy this spot may seem insulting to a wrestler of his caliber. Or is 74 just that deep? I tend to think that someone with an unblemished record over the course of 2 years is going to be a bit tough to beat 2 out of 3 times. While this is our deepest weight, he’d be my first pick to make the World Team of any of the weights. His abilities are at times placed in too restrictive of a box that don’t appreciate the full complement of tools. His slogan “Got Doubles” possibly got people to think that this is the essence of his game, but I don’t view him as just a great athlete with an unstoppable double(though he is that). Burroughs is well developed in many aspects of his game. His defense is often overlooked but is perhaps one of his great strengths. He re-directs opponents shots with tremendous speed and is able to get takedowns off of many of their shots.
Burroughs is a creative wrestler when you get on his legs, able to scramble and/or come with great hip pressure that prevents the finish. Getting to his legs isn’t even half the battle, it’s maybe 1/3rd. If you’re brazen enough to shoot on Burroughs, his re-attacks are so well timed and quick many opponents are conceding takedowns before they have a chance to defend. On his feet he does love a double, however, his head inside single and low single are unquestionably World class, and not just compliments to his offense, rather integral parts of his scoring.
When building the perfect wrestler, they’re going to look a lot like Burroughs: Compact, chiseled with long arms and tremendous explosion. His mind, is probably his most under-rated quality. In the 2011 World Championships adversity after adversity came his way and you would never have thought he wasn’t up big in any of his matches. His mental strength wrestling the singlet-puller Tsargush was admirable. Ignoring the blatant cheating, instead finding a way to overcome instead of make excuses. Then his World Semi against Aliyev which we actually saw points taken away from Burroughs, where we saw a wrestler blatantly targeting a swollen ear( that he eventually was able to bust), where we saw horrific officiating, Burroughs never missed a beat or batted an eye. He keeps wrestling. Not only is his mental strength on full display in his matches, but also in the work he puts in to be great. Burroughs has continued to add layers to his game. Instead of being satisfied with where he is, he continues to work to widen the gap from the rest of the World. You guys can have your dark-horses. I’ll take Burroughs.
David Taylor-The Magic Man sits atop the challenge tournament bracket. Coming off a runner up finish at the U.S. Open and a win at the Rumble on the Rails sets Taylor up with some great momentum coming into this tournament. That being said, the host of opponents Taylor will see are significantly superior to the guys Taylor saw at the Open (Apart from Burroughs). Adding Howe, Paulson and Dake to this tournament adds three guys that I believe present significant stylistic mismatches for Taylor. We saw all year how Kyle Dake’s strength (among other things) was able to neutralize much of what makes Taylor the prolific scorer he is. In this tournament Howe, Paulson and Dake all present similar problems for Taylor. DT utilizes great motion and pulling on the head to open up opponents ankles. He also has a great re-shot he uses against overly-ambitious opponents. Defensively Taylor is creative and crafty. His ability to expose from opponents shots will be a valuable tool for Taylor moving forward.
While I’m a big fan of his style, I don’t believe the Challenge tournament finals is in his future. Rather, Taylor will likely be in a battle for 3rd/4th.
Kyle Dake- Kid Dynamite took a well earned break that prevented us from seeing him in the U.S. Open or Universities. It is tough to say where Dake falls in the pecking order at 74. The last time Dake saw Howe the matches were fairly tight with Howe able to get to legs much more than Dake(pretty sure Dake never got to a leg actually). That being said that was coming shortly after Dakes 149 lb National Championship (so many to keep track of) and was wrestled at 74. 2 years later Dake is a full grown man at 74, so I’m curious as to how that shifts the pendulum for Dake. If he is the 4 and Paulson is the 5 here, he may well have to go through Paulson, Taylor, Howe to get to Burroughs. Just playing the numbers game it is very possible to see Dake dropped somewhere along the line. Dake brings impeccable positioning, great mat awareness along with his ever improving arsenal of leg attacks. He has his trusty knee pull single in his back pocket, but has also shown he can get to the low ankle as well. He can sit to the corner very well when you’re on his leg where he is able to crotch lift for exposure. He presents a myriad of problems to even the best leg attackers. I said I was done picking against Dake for the time being during the college season. As we enter the Senior level, I think a new set of challenges will present iself and with that a period of transition and new challenges will arise. I think he adjusts and at some point ultimately becomes the next guy in line behind Burroughs. Just not yet.
Andrew Howe- In watching his film not just from this year, but World Team Trials, there are so many “what ifs” that seemingly could have gone the other way for Howe to make the World/Olympic team. What if he finished that first period go behind (where JB had one of his most impressive defensive moments) in the World Team Trials? What if he hadn’t torn his ACL? The fact is that as great as Howe is, Burroughs is just a bit better and also a bit more clutch, getting the points when he has to. Howe has many world class attributes: Hand fighting, short offense (where he particularly gave Burroughs trouble), knee pull single and defense. In addition to those, he also can wrestle at a high pace for a long time, and can wear on opponents. He loves to beat on the head and wear you out. I had some reservations about Howe before his University showing, but he appears to be all the way back and ready to go. I can’t wait to see it, and I like him to navigate the Challenge Tourney.
Wild Card:
Trent Paulson-We ran an article about Paulson labeling him the “forgotten man” at 74. He has been very much active on the Freestyle scene, and probably has the most international experience of any wrestler at this weight. Perhaps the attraction of the new stars to this weight: Dake, Howe, Taylor, Burroughs, has left the grinding veteran in the back seat for many fans. Paulson brings tremendous physical strength to this weight. He is phenomenal with his chest lock, which even gave Burroughs some tense moments. He has great defense and is very tough on top. He could hit Dake in the Quarters, and I like Dake to find a way to win there. It’s entirely possible he beats Dake, if he does I think he beats Taylor and hits Howe in the Challenge finals. Paulson may well feel forgotten, but he will have the opportunity to refresh our memories this weekend.
Predictions:
1. Jordan Burroughs
2. Andrew Howe
3. Kyle Dake
4. Trent Paulson
5. David Taylor
84 KG
With multiple time World Team member Jake Herbert sitting this season out to recover from injury, it opens up 84 to a variety of guys all operating on a similar talent level. Keith Gavin comes in as the prohibitive favorite. He spent some time early in his Freestyle career down at 74, and as we’ve seen time and time again the move up proves to be the right one. There are a few guys who will nip at the Factoryville native and Pittsburgh Panthers heels, but ultimately this will be Gavins weight to lose.
U.S. Open Champion Sitting in Finals
Keith Gavin- The U.S. Open champ loves working out of his underhook where he hits a variety of leg attacks. He also has a nice, high single and can work other upper body ties well such as a Russian and arm drags. He is cool under pressure remaining unphased when put in tough situations. He has great defense when guys get on his legs (check his US Open semi with Reader to see what I mean). I think he’s just a notch ahead of the rest of the competition, and I think he takes this weight.
Clayton Foster- Hadn’t seen much of Foster until the U.S. Open where he had a fine showing, dropping a tight one to Gavin. Still loves to paw at your head and shoot his beautiful double he used so effectively at NCAA’s. Doesn’t have the tremendous defense you’d like to see from an upper weight, but if his offense is clicking he can be hard to match takedown for takedown. I like that he is an efficient finisher and gets the takedown quickly. If he sees Gavin again he will have to have a better answer for his underhook series. I’d really like to see Foster and Reader hit as well and believe we will see them in the Challenge Tournament finals if seeds permit.
Jon Reader- The Gladiator looks to jump levels at 84 KG. The ISU graduate and National Champion brings a lot of what made him a great Folkstyler to the freestyle game. Great pace, frequent leg attacks (beautiful low sweep) and can work both sides of your body. He also can capitalize off of errant leg attacks with his punishing front headlock series. He’s a very complete wrestler who absolutely has what it takes to make this World team
Phil Keddy- Keddy provides key depth to this weight. While he may not have the chops to knock at the door for a World Team spot, the Hawkeye All American has proven he can compete with the best having notched wins over Jon Reader and Ed Ruth. He still loves his underhooks like he did in his Hawkeye days and uses them well to get to leg attacks or throw bys. He uses his big hips to punish anyone who gets stuck under him on leg attacks. He is physically quite strong but lacks the speed that some of the elite 84’s possess. It is possible I’m selling Keddy a bit short here as he has shown he can compete with the best, I just feel there are some better talents out there.
Wild Card:
Ed Ruth- I’m somewhat confused by what Ed Ruth is going to be in Freestyle. In College we see a prodigy who is darn near impossible to take down who can seemingly get takedown’s at will. In freestyle, he still seems a bit uncomfortable, getting pushed to the limits by Kenny Courts and Max Thommusseit at Universities. That being said he was able to win those tight ones. At the Open we saw him able to beat Francois and Trotman, while dropping matches to Foster and Reader. I think Ruth still has some work to do to enter the conversation of elite at 84, but with his natural talent, training situation, and track record of success, I think we see Ed figure it out sooner rather than later. His misdirection shot is about as unstoppable as any shot out there, and his ability to finish is second to none. He still has work to do in Par Terre, getting turned on occasion and struggling to create turns of his own (something he is masterful at in college). I’ve been a Ruth fan for awhile now, so at the very least he will be fun to watch this tournament.
Predictions:
1. Keith Gavin-In 3 matches
2. Jon Reader
3. Clayton Foster
4. Phil Keddy
5. Ed Ruth
96 KG
This weight has a Jake Varner shaped hole in it for this year with the Olympic Gold Medalist taking the year off. While the loss of Varner definitely hurts the overall strength of the weight, it cannot be denied that Jake would have his work cut out for him to make another World Team. Varner took a loss to Wynn Michalak earlier this year, and has always had battles with JD Bergman.
U.S. Open Champion Sitting in Finals
JD Bergman-Bergman navigated the Varner-less U.S. Open field en route to a title over Chris Pendleton. Bergman is a horse at 96. He works well from his underhooks and limits risk by not taking as many shots as you would see a guy like Pendleton or Michalak take. JD is stingy defensively with many opponents struggling to get to his legs. Once on his legs, Bergman has unique athleticism that enables him to sit to the corner and old on for stalemates, or ideally, expose his opponents. If he is a favorite here, he is a narrow one. At least in my mind.
Chris Pendleton- The dynamic Cowboy(in both competition and coaching from Oklahoma St. to Wyoming) is having a bit of a resurgence up at 96. He was here last year, but seems to really be hitting his stride. H always was phenomenally athletic with great speed and feel for his opponents pressure. He has a great reshot and hi-c. His moving up makes him one of the more athletic and mobile guys up at 96, that being said in watching his matches you don’t see him giving up the strength you would expect. He actually can match guys like Michalak and Bergman strength wise. His loss to Bergman was narrow and primarily due to the now dead ball-draw (at long last). Pendleton seems hungry (and not just because he’s an upperweight) and motivated for a spot on the World Team. His narrow defeat at the hands of Bergman may motivate him all the way to the top.
Wynn Michalak- Seeing Wynn knock off Varner was a bit of a surprise to me. Just a year ago he went 0-2 at the Olympic Trials falling to David Zabriske and Craig Brester. He loves to work with upper body ties especially an over under where he can get to a nice, knee pick. Once on top he can use a side headlock turn similar to the one used by Jake Varner and Clarion All American James Fleming. He can also use a high gut. He’s got great size and strength and underrated athleticism to boot. He needs to avoid taking errant shots and giving his opponents easy scoring opportunities. Those sorts of mistakes are magnified up at 96. All this being said Wynn winning (couldn’t resist) would not surprise me in the least.
Les Sigman- I was quite intrigued when I learned Les Sigman would be dropping down to 96. I never found him to be a particularly undersized 120, so I was curious what he would look like down at 96. He had a fair showing at the Open but dropped matches to Michalak and Brandvold. He works a lot from upper body and rarely attacks legs. He is at his best countering and exposing opponents’ shots. He has a variety of, throws foot sweeps and exposures. Big point scorers at this weight are hard to come by. If he can lock up one of his big moves, he could pull an upset and potentially challenge for another World Team spot.
Brandon Halsey- Not going to lie, I wasn’t sure who Brandon Halsey was. I vaguely remember him in college at Cal State Bakersfield where I think I noticed his strapping physique first and foremost. Really well put together kid. In addition to great size and strength he is pretty fun to watch, as he is not afraid to take risks. He looks for push outs a lot, but he also isn’t afraid to throw a head lock or an arm spin either. He seems to be hitting his stride well in Freestyle and he has the strength and guts to make him an ideal candidate for the wildcard spot.
Predictions:
1. Chris Pendleton-In 3 matches
2. JD Bergman
3. Wynn Michalak
4. Les Sigman
5. Brandon Halsey
120 KG
It is pretty disappointing to see that Dom won’t be able to compete (Dom tested positive for a banned stimulant). As a fan I hope it was an honest mistake and it is able to be resolved quickly so we can see the full complement of heavyweight talent. That being said there is still a lot to look forward too. Tervel Dlagnev looks poised to make another World Team and it will take an unprecedented performance for him to be ousted from his spot. His old rivals Mocco(MMA), Sigman(down a weight) and Bradley for various reasons are all gone. This puts Tervel at a real advantage sitting in the finals waiting for the winner.
U.S. Open Runner-Up Sitting in Finals
Tervel Dlagnev- Coming into last year I thought Tervel had a great shot at winning the Gold Medal in London. That wasn’t in the cards for Dlagnev, but I’m still convinced he can compete with anyone (his win over Taymazov at Worlds 2 years should help you feel likewise). He’s a very active heavyweight who is extremely gifted at attacking legs. His constant pressure can be scouted to a degree, but with Dom out, I’m not sure anyone will be able to slow the big guy down. He likes to shoot a low single, but also has a nice sweep. With the new rules favoring offense, I’d be surprised to see him drop a match.
Tyrell Fortune- Here is a guy you cannot take your eye of for even one second. The high-flying Fortune makes a habit of lateral dropping some of the NCAA’s best talent. In less than a month he launched the guys who combined for the last 3 D1 National Championships Zach Rey and Tony Nelson. For a guy who used to compete at 96 he has put on some quality weight that has made him able to compete strength wise with the monsters at 120. I wouldn’t have believed this coming into this Freestyle season, but I think he’s the favorite to make the finals against Dlagnev.
Matt Meuleners- I don’t follow D II wrestling too closely (or, at all) so you’ll have to pardon a bit of my ignorance in regard to Matt Meuleners. For many of the guys I preview I’ve seen from around 20-30 matches(yes, that’s a lot, and no, I don’t know what’s wrong with me), so I have more of a refined view of who they are as wrestlers. In the few matches I’ve seen of Meuleners he strikes me as a very active heavy, who doesn’t have the prototypical build. Lanky and lean, he uses speed and level changes to get to his leg attacks. He also likes to paw at your head to open you up as well. He’s a nice young prospect who adds quality depth to this weight.
Zach Rey- Rey reprensents the style and build of a traditional heavyweight. Barrell chested, with massive quads and hips, he is still working on making his style transition over to Freestyle. He struggles to fire off leg attacks but when he does it is from fakes where he likes to grab a high single leg. The new rules may make life more difficult for the offensivey challenged Rey. Or perhaps it will motivate him to wrestle a more offensive style.
Wild Card:
Tony Nelson - Tony is coming off a 2nd NCAA title and a runner up(to Fortune) finish at this years Universities. Nelson brings many of the necessary tools for an effective 120. Great size, athleticism and positioning. He needs to watch his pushing as he is not a skilled upper body wrestler (see the match he went upper body with Z last year and with Fortune this year). He is at his best countering leg attacks and picking spots for his own shots (frequently a single). I think we will see a hungrier Nelson coming into this tournament, and he has a fine chance of crashing the finals if he is clicking on all cylinders.
Predictions:
1. Tervel Dlagnev
2. Tyrell Fortune
3. Tony Nelson
4. Zach Rey
5. Matt Meuleners
World Team trials can be super difficult to predict in certain weights. When you don’t see these guys in the flow of a season like you do in college it is very difficult to determine health, momentum and improvement. Some of these guys you haven’t seen in action in months, and predicting where they will wind up is quite a task.
If I were to rank my World team members in order of confidence I’d go:
Jordan Burroughs
Tervel Dlagnev
Sam Hazewinkel
Keith Gavin
Logan Stieber
Kellen Russell
Chris Pendleton
Thanks for reading!